Fire-control apparatus for guns



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p b 1935. R. c. COUPLAND FIRE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR GUNS Filed March 27,193:5 6 Sheet-Sheet 1 Inve ntur' Rithard ilfiuupland M 2y lliw ZQEZEOOSepfi. 3, 1935. R. c. COUPLAND FIRE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR GUNS 3 NZ: PEM U R T 3 N 5% A m R T E M Q E G 3 8 Filed March 27, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet2 M KM Inventor Richard l gpland www w P 1935. R. c. COUPLAND FIRECONTROL APPARATUS FOR GUNS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 27, 1953 T U n EV m Richard Ejmupland 21/74. WWW/Z Att EIFTLE Sept. 3, 1935. R. c.COUPLAND 2,112,%@-

FIRE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR GUNS Filed March 27, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 4Inventur Richard fijuupland Attorney ZEEQMETRlGZ-XL UWSTRUiiFiE p 1935.R. c. COUPLAND FIRE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR GUNS Filed March 27, 1933 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Pd n m M w J 2M n d F a m. R

AHE'LEEV MS MM 4! BUUIHW p 1935. R. c. COUPLAND FiRE CONTROL APPARATUSFOR GUNS Filed March 27, 1933 e Sheets-Sheet e v IventnrRichardfijggpland Attnrney Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 10 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and usedby or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the paymentto me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a fire-control apparatus for guns employedunder conditions where either or both the gun or bomb platform andtarget are moving at high speeds.

In Patent No. 1,935,615 of November 21, 1933, there is shown anapparatus in which members interpreting the rate of the relative angulartravel of a target in both the horizontal and vertical planes areassociated with a constant speed device to produce a variable speedmechanism displacing the line of sight of an aiming device to correctfor the future position of the target or otherwise to indicate the lead.

The present invention relates to an improvement in this type of firecontrol apparatus and includes the particular rate mechanisms describedand claimed in Patent No. 1,946,485 of February 13, 1934.

The improvements in this invention are directed to a novel arrangementof the rate mechanisms relative to the gun, and an arrangement of amotorrelative to the rate mechanisms and gun. There is also provided a frontsight unit that is operated to afford a measure of range or time offlight of projectile, and a novel manner of introducing this factor intothe product of the rate mechanisms whereby a correction may beincorporated in the displacement of the rear sight to allow for theinfluence of range. The operation of the front sight unit controls therunning of the motor.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides inthe novel arrangement .and combination of parts and in the details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood thatchanges in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed maybe made within the scope of What is claimed without departing from thespirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in left side elevation, with parts broken away, of theimproved fire control apparatus applied to a machine gun.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the rate mechanisms.

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly in section 01 the rate mechanisms.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view in right side elevation of the rear sight unit.

Fig. 7 is a view in rear elevation of the casing for the rear sightunit.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line I0|II of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 are detail views in elevation of the plate connecting the frontsight unit with its operating mechanism and with the rear sight unit.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the plate shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 are detail views of the operating link for the plate.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the cover for the front sight unit.

Figs. 15 and 16 are respectively views in side elevation and plan of thepressure plate .and lever of the rate mechanisms.

Fig. 1'7 is a view in side elevation of the carriage of the ratemechanisms.

The invention is illustrated as directly applied to a machine gun 5(Fig. 1) mounted by means of trunnions 6 in a standard 1 which isrotatably supported on a base 8.

The fire control apparatus includes two similar rate mechanisms whichhave been described and claimed in Patent No. 1,946,485. Only suchessential features of these rate mechanisms are to be shown anddescribed as will lead to a clear understanding of their relation to thefeatures forming the subject matter of the present application.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a horizontally positioned rate mechanismA is actuated by means of a flexible shaft 9 driven by the rotatablestandard 1 and .a vertically positioned rate mechanism B is actuated bymeans of a train of gearing l0 driven by one of the trunnions 6.Accordingly the mechanism A deals with the relative angular travel orposition of the target in azimuth and the mechanism B functions in asimilar capacity with regard to elevation.

The rate mechanism A includes a drum l l fast on a shaft l 2. Aplurality of slides or racks I3 are arranged about the periphery of thedrum and are mounted for longitudinal movement parallel to the axisthereof. The slides 13 are displaced by a pinion l4 driven by theflexible shaft 9 and they are individually held in position ofdisplacement by a roller I 5 while the pinion is acting on a succeedingslide. A pressure plate 16 (Figs. 5 and 15) is slidably mounted on theshaft I2 at each end of the drum and receives the axial displacement ofthe slides IS. A spring I! embracing the shaft l2 acts on the outer faceof the pressure plate and restores it to neutral position. Each pressureplate carries a hooked lever l8 adapted to be rotated upon displacementof the pressure plate by cam plates clearly shown and described inPatent No. 1,946,485 to pick up a pin W on a carriage 20 mounted formovement on an axis parallel to the axis of the drum. The levers E8 onthe opposite pressure plates serve as clutches to selectively engage andrelease the pins l8 (Figs. 4, 5 and 17) of the carriage.

The foregoing elements numbered from H to 20 have corresponding parts inthe vertical rate mechanism B which are numbered from 2| to 30.

The drive for the drum of the horizontal mechanism A is received from aconstant speed spring motor C (Fig. 8) driving a gear 3! (Figs. 3 and 4)on the left end of the shaft HE. A gear 32 on the right end of the shaftl2 meshes with a gear 33 on the shaft 22 of the vertical rate mechanismB. As seen clearly in Fig. 3 the mechanism A is positioned above the gun5 and the mechanism B is positioned at one side of the gun. Both of themechanisms are housed in a casing D which embraces the gun and alsocontains the motor C. The motor C comprises a pair of spaced coiledsprings 34-34 and as seen in Fig. 8 the gun 5 is positioned between thesprings and above their common shaft 35.

One end of each spring is secured to the shaft 35 while the other end issecured to a rotatable casing 36 enclosing the spring. The casings 35for the pair of springs are connected by a sleeve 31 on the shaft 35 sothat they are driven as a unit by the springs. One of the casings 35includes a gear wheel 38 which drives a twin gear 39 which in turndrives the gear wheel 3! (Fig. 1) of the rate mechanism A. Referringback to Fig. 8 the gear wheel 39 also drives a train of gearing 40including a large gear wheel ll mounted on the shaft 35. The gear wheelM is associated with and controlled by an escapement 52 (Fig. 1) whosepallet 43 includes an arm 55 the purpose of which will appearhereinafter. The customary pawl 45 and ratchet 46 (Figs. 6, 8 and 9) areprovided for holding the shaft 35 stationary against the action of thesprings 34. A crank handle 41 on a projecting end of the shaft 35 isprovided for winding the springs.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the carriage 25 is provided with avertical groove 58 for receiving a slide holder 49. The holder in turnis provided with a horizontal groove 50 for receiving an arm 5| on thecarriage 35 of the vertical rate mechanism B. By this arrangement theslide holder is capable of being displaced horizontally and vertically.

A slide 52 carried by the holder 49 has a squared post 53 (Fig. 5) onits rear end on which is mounted an arm 54. The arm 54 is held against astop pin 55 by means of a spring 56 embracing the post. The outer end ofthe arm is connected to a tube 51 through a universal ball joint 58. Thetube 51 telescopically fits into a larger tube 59 whose forward end ismounted by means of trunnion pins 6ll66 in a yoke 6! that is secured tothe top of the casing D (see Fig. 11). The rear end of the tube 59carries a post 62 on whose upper extremity is a ring 63 constituting therear element of a sighting system.

The casing D (Figs. 1 and 2) has a forward extension E for the purposeof carrying the front sight elements. The front sight includes a centrallaterally immovable post 64 threadedly mounted in the casing E and apair of laterally movable posts 6565 slidably mounted in a groove 56 inthe casing. A pair of bell-crank levers 6l5l disposed in a recess 68 inthe casing are mounted on pivot pins 69.

The long arms of the levers are each provided with a slot it forreceiving one of the posts 65. The short arms of the levers alsoprovided with a slot H, are arranged in overlapping relation in a yoke12 of the front end of a control rod 13. A pin l i secured to the yokepasses through the slots H of the overlapping ends. A spring 15embracing the control rod is confined between the casing E and the yokeand normally tends to hold the lovers (il in extended position, arrestedby the side walls of the recess 68 in the casing. A cover it is providedwith a pair of slots 11 for the posts 65.

The control rod 73 (Figs. 1 and 2) extends rearwardly and terminateswithin the main casing D. A plate '58 (Fig. 11) secured to the rod bymeans of a screw l9 rides on a guide pin threaded into the front wall ofthe casing D. The upper portion of the plate is turned into a flange BIhaving a slot 82 for receiving a pin 83 (Figs. 1 and 5) depending fromthe slide 52.

The lower portion of the plate is provided with an angled slot 86opening at one side of the plate to permit the intersection of theH-shaped end 85 of an operating link 86. There is a limited play in theengagement between the end 85 and the plate 78 so that the link 86 mayhave a slight movement in retraction before picking up the plate. Thisprovision is made so that a pin 81, fixed to the link and normallyengaging the arm Ml of the pallet 53 to hold the pallet immovable, mayrelease the pallet upon initial retraction of the link 86. Furtherretraction of the link results in moving the plate l8 which through thecontrol rod '53 causes the spaced posts 65 of the front sight to bedrawn towards each other. The link 35 extends rearwardly to a positionfrom which it may be conveniently actuated by the operator of themachine gun.

In employing the device the first operation of the gunner is to directthe gun on the target by lining up the rear sight 63 and the front sight64 in the customary manner. The operating link $6 is then retracteduntil the front sight posts -565 subtend the target and tachymetricallyafford an indication of range to the target or time of flight of abullet corresponding to such range. Since the movement of the link 86 istransmitted to the slide 52 through the plate 18 the slide will be movedproportional to range or time of flight.

The retraction of the operating link 86 has also released the pallet 43of the spring motor C and the drums H and 2! of the two rate mechanismsA and B are rotated at a constant speed. As the gun is moved in azimuthin following the target the pinion l4 displaces the successivelypresented slides or racks l3 which through the pressure plates 56 movethe carriage 20 proportional to the relative angular travel of thetarget in the horizontal plane. By properly porportioning the gearingthis measure of angular movement in a. given period of time is made toautomatically set in the horizontal lead angle made necessary by reasonof the speed of the target.

If the gun is also moved in elevation the pinion 24 displaces the slides23 which through the pressure plates 26 move the carriage 3tproportional to the relative angular travel of the target in thevertical plane, thereby afiording a measure of the vertical lead angle.

The displacements of the carriage 251 and 38 are combined in the holder39 which transmits the combined movement to the rear sight 63. Thedisplacement of the rear sight 63 gives a deviation in the line of sightwith respect to the axis of direction of the gun.

Since the range to the target is a factor influencing the vertical leadto be allowed for by the sighting system, the position of the rear sightmust be further modified. As previously discussed the subtending of thetarget by the front sight posts 5565 affords a measure of range which isintroduced into the system by displacing the slide 52 longitudinally ofthe gun. The tube 51 carried by the slide 52 is thereby moved in or outof the tube 55 carrying the rear sight 63. The lever arm of the combinedtubes El and 59 is thereby varied with respect to the trunnions 63. Froman inspection of Fig. 1 it will be obvious that a shortening of thelever arm will give a greater movement of the sight 63 when the lever ismoved by vertical movement of the holder 59.

I claim:

1. In a combination with a member mounted for movement in azimuth andelevation, a vertical rate mechanism operable upon movement of themember in elevation, a horizontal rate mechanism operable upon movementof the member in azimuth, a holder displaceable by said rate mechanisms,a slide carried by the holder, means for displacing the slide an amountproportional to a range factor, a tube universally connected to theslide, a pivotally mounted tube in which the first tube istelescopically fitted, and a sighting element on the pivotally mountedtube.

2. In a fire control apparatus, a holder, means for displacing theholder proportional to horizontal andIver tieal leadnfactors, a slidecarried by the holder, means for displacing the slide on said holder anamount proportional to a range factor, a lever one arm of which isaxially adjustable said arm being universally connected to the slide,and a sighting element on the opposite arm of said lever.

3. In a fire control apparatus, a holder, means for displacing theholder proportional to horizontal and vertical lead factors, a slidecarried by the holder, means for displacing the slide on said holder anamount proportional to a range factor, a lever one arm of which isaxially adjustable, said arm being connected to the slide, and asighting element on the opposite arm of said lever.

4. In a fire control apparatus, a lever, one arm of which is adjustablein length, means for ad justing the length of said arm an amountproportional to a range factor, means for moving the arm an amountproportional to horizontal and vertical lead factors, and a rearsighting member mounted on the opposite arm of said lever.

5. In a fire control apparatus, a. lever, one arm of which is adjustableas to length, means for adjusting the length of said arm an amountproportional to a range factor, and a rear sighting member mounted onthe opposite arm of said lever.

6. In the fire control apparatus, a front sight unit including spacedposts, bell crank levers each connected to one of the posts, a controlrod connected to the levers, a spring acting on the control rod tonormally separate the posts, and means for retracting the control rod tomove the posts towards one another.

'7. In a fire control apparatus, sighting members mounted for movementtowards and away from each other, actuating means for simultaneouslymoving the sighting members, and means acting through said actuatingmeans for normally separating the sighting members.

8. In a fire control apparatus, front sighting members movable tosubtend a target, actuating means for moving the sighting members towardand from each other, a lever having an arm axially adjustable to varythe effective length thereof, said arm being coupled to the actuatingmeans, and a rear sighting member mounted on the opposite arm of saidlever.

9. In combination with a gun mounted for movement in azimuth andelevation, a vertical rate mechanism positioned at one side of the gunand operable upon movement of the gun in elevation, a horizontal ratemechanism overlying the gun and operable upon movement of the gun inazimuth, a motor for driving the rate mechanisms and including spacedsprings positioned on opposite sides of the gun, a lever displaceable bythe rate mechanisms, an adjustable arm on the lever adapted to changethe throw of the lever, a rear sighting member on the lever, frontsighting members movable toward and away from each other, and meansconnecting said front sighting members to the adjustable arm of thelever.

10. In combination with a gun mounted for movement in azimuth andelevation, a vertical rate mechanism positioned at one side of the gunand operable upon movement of the gun in elevation, a horizontal ratemechanism overlying the gun and operable upon movement of the gun inazimuth, a lever displaceable by the rate mechanisms, an adjustable armon the lever adapted to change the throw of the lever, a rear sightingmember on the lever, front sighting members movable toward and away fromeach other, and means connecting said front sighting members to theadjustable arm of the lever.

RICHARD C. COUPLAND.

